COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

COVID-19 isn’t the same as the flu. It’s extremely dangerous — to you and those you come in contact with. More than 50,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States.  

If you develop severe symptoms from COVID-19 and survive, your recovery typically isn’t easy. You may require lengthy, difficult rehabilitation.

Now that vaccines are available, don’t take chances. Get the vaccine — to protect yourself, your family and the surrounding community.

Yes. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved all three vaccines available in the United States — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J).

To be approved, vaccines must go through a careful trial process with several phases to address safety and effectiveness. The COVID-19 vaccine trials did just that, and they included an extremely large number of participants. There were at least 30,000 people each in the Pfizer and Moderna trials, and 43,000 people in the Johnson & Johnson trials.

The COVID-19 vaccines were produced so rapidly not because they were rushed by cutting corners but because scientists had significant prior experience working with other coronaviruses, such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). Research on a COVID-19 vaccine did not start from scratch.

In addition, the U.S. government made vaccine development a priority once the COVID-19 coronavirus took off in the United States. We also have a huge amount of real-world experience with the vaccines now, and the vaccines have proven to be incredibly safe.

The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing symptoms, hospitalizations and death. However, the strength of the vaccines does decline over time. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services now recommends a booster shot for everyone who received the full two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

No. All three vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) are excellent at protecting you against COVID-19. Take whichever vaccine is offered to you.

As with most vaccines, you may experience mild to moderate side effects. These can include fatigue, mild fever, headache, muscle aches and pain in your arm at the injection site. These side effects may last a couple days but are completely normal.

As with any medication, some people may experience an allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine. This risk is extremely small. To be on the safe side, health care workers may ask you to remain for a short period after your vaccination so they can monitor you for an allergic reaction and take action should one occur.

If you do suffer an allergic reaction, contact your doctor, as you may want to skip the second dose of the vaccine. An allergic reaction is considered severe if you require epinephrine or an EpiPen for treatment or you need to go to the hospital.

No. You cannot get COVID-19 from any of the vaccines. None of the vaccines contain the live coronavirus nor do they contain a weakened or dead version of the coronavirus. The vaccines have no coronavirus to pass on to you.

The vaccine is safe and highly recommended for the protection of you and your unborn child. Please see COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy: Should I get the vaccine? and COVID-19 and pregnancy: Virus can be deadly.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends a booster shot for everyone who received the full two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  

Not entirely. None of the vaccines are 100% effective. Although vaccination is associated with a marked reduction in severe infection, we now know that breakthrough infections can occur. When these happen in vaccinated people, they tend to be mild — but infected people can still spread the virus to others. People who are unvaccinated, those who are immunocompromised and the elderly — even if vaccinated — are especially at risk of catching the virus from people with breakthrough infections.

It usually takes two weeks after you complete your vaccine series to acquire immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. You could get infected during this time, endangering your health. You might also still be able to spread the disease, both during this 2-week window as well as after you develop full immunity, endangering others.

With COVID-19 activity still strong, wearing a face mask is critical to preventing the spread of disease.

This is particularly important in indoor public spaces, but also in outdoor spaces where you cannot maintain 6-foot distance from others. You should mask regardless of whether or not you are vaccinated. To the extent possible, you should also practice social distancing, avoid crowds and wash your hands often.

We recommend you get the vaccine. Reinfection is possible. Some experts recommend waiting three months from when you developed COVID-19. This is because you probably have some degree of natural immunity. Importantly, it is not clear how long natural immunity will last. If you are in this three-month window, you should discuss the best time to get the vaccine with your doctor. If you've had symptoms of COVID-19 but were never diagnosed, don't assume you had the disease and are immune. Get the vaccine.

All COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States protect against the dominant variants in the U.S., including omicron. If you do get infected, your symptoms will likely be mild. By getting vaccinated, you reduce your risk of severe COVID-19, hospitalization and death. You also help prevent viral spread and thereby limit the emergence of new variants.

If you are a patient at VCU Health, you may get the vaccine here. Please call us at (804) 628-0223 to schedule your vaccination. Calls are taken Wednesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are required. Walk-ins are not accepted.

Vaccines are also widely available in the community. Visit vaccinate.virginia.gov to find places near you that offer the vaccine.

Please continue to check our COVID-19 website, as we are constantly adding new information. Also sign up for our monthly e-newsletter.

Specific guidelines on vaccination timing, vaccine type and follow up after COVID-19 vaccination exist for patients after CARt, autologous or allogeneic transplants. Call the cellular immunotherapies and transplant program (CIT) COVID vaccination line at (804) 628-7290 to get clearance and vaccine access to ensure the best benefit and safety for your specific situation.

Please visit Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

Please visit VCU Massey Cancer Center.

Please visit Patients with specific medical conditions..